Mobile magazine apps can be a way to diversify content, an additional source for acquiring readers, and an extra channel for increasing revenue. However, having an app is one thing – making people download is another.
Online magazines have become an inseparable element of the publishing world and their growth is particularly noticeable today. The reason for this situation is technological development, the increasing popularity of reading on mobile devices, and especially the pandemic situation which has changed people's needs. However, even in such favourable circumstances, digital magazines need a promotion strategy.
The goal is to continue content delivery in a form attractive to the readers and monetize even in difficult times. Regardless of whether you publish a digital magazine separately or as a supplement to the print publication if you want to make it part of the successful monetization strategy, there's a necessity to introduce marketing activities. Having great content is just the beginning.
Why do your newspaper and magazine need a mobile app?
App development is a tiresome and money-consuming endeavour. So, any company that decides to make its app's needs iron-clad, guarantees the app's revenue potential. And, as a not-so-popular news outlet, your company's scepticism is justifiable.
Can the company recoup the cost of building the app? Are customers interested in the app? Will app monetization kill user experience? Which app monetization method is most lucrative for news apps?
These are the pressing questions every company's marketing department must answer before strategizing their app monetization strategy.
But you are in luck today since we have done most of the thinking for you. Let’s check out some of the main administrative and financial reasons why building and monetizing your app is a sure bet.
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Relevance and brand recognition
Your magazine's website gives you a public presence, but an app makes your product a household name.
And why is that?
Nowadays, most users prefer browsing on their smartphones. This preference for mobile versions of websites makes a mobile app an outstanding idea. Besides, apps provide a personal connection with the user through push notifications, live support, and other features.
With that in mind, a combination of your app and website's usage will increase your magazine's popularity and relevance in the industry.
Audience expansion
As the app becomes popular, the user base widens. And since the app users make up a new base, your magazine's audience increases. Even if the same users are downloading the app, its popularity in Google Play Store will make it a top contender in the news and entertainment category.
Competitive advantage
As it stands, most companies are reluctant to invest in apps for their magazines. This presents an opportunity for your magazine to assert its dominance with a massive user base.
Capitalizing on this untapped market potential will help your business generate revenue. Any news or entertainment outlet that fills this void will become a dominant force in news. So, why not seize this golden opportunity?
Improved user experience
As mentioned earlier, apps provide direct access to content and exciting functionalities that a website cannot provide. Users can enjoy their daily (or weekly) dose of entertainment instantly.
Also, users can customize apps with default themes and get useful tips on how to use the app. At the same time, you can establish a personal communication channel with users, irrespective of location.
Before app launch
Create a great app icon
The app logo will help your app distinguish itself from among thousands of others; it will ensure recognizability. This is the first thing that people see next to the brand name and simultaneously this is the element identified with the application, magazine, and brand. You’ll use it also on your blog/website and on social media posts during promoting the app (about this later in the text).
Take care of screenshots
The good looking and high-quality screenshots which you put on app stores are no less important. In this way, you show people what they really will find inside, after downloading the application.
How to take good app screenshots?Focus on the most important app features but use only one of them on one screenshot. The picture shouldn't be chaotic.
What performs well on screenshots are covers. Choose one of the most representative which will be eye-catching.
Try to show that your app is easy to use and highlight the greatest advantages of the application like visible, intuitive and modern design.
Write a curious description
This short piece of text should explain what the app is all about in a very easy to understand way. It is important to give proper and deep concern to the app description, which is supposed to be appealing, clear and easy to find by visitors.
How to write an effective app description?
The biggest part of the text is collapsed so pay attention to the first two sentences of the description. It's an effect of the first impression which makes people press the 'more' button to read the rest of the text.
Use bullet points to indicate the most important app features and to make the text clear and easy to read.
Give the link to your website, blog, or the most representative social media channels.
What are the essential features of any modern newspaper and magazine app?
You can cover your app with ads or use out-of-this-world fonts for the design. But none of these guarantees a successful app monetization model.
Old and new users should always be your main focus if you want to monetize your app. Don't add any feature just for kicks. Maintain a high level of efficiency by stripping down the app to the barest minimum.
At the same time, you need enough essential features to compete with other news and magazine apps. You just need to strike the right balance between creativity and utility.
Let's check out the essential features of any modern newspaper app.
Comfortable user experience
Comfort is the most crucial deciding factor of the appeal of mobile apps to users. An average newsreader wants to pick their phone, lay back, and enjoy a news article without any stress.
A modern app should have an exquisite and interactive UX design. The interface should allow easy navigation between pages. Also, the fonts and colour scheme must be legible and appropriate for a news agency. A top mobile app designer will address these issues during the design stage.
Offline access
Of course, most magazine apps need an internet connection to function properly. But any mobile app with user acquisition aspirations must allow offline access to news articles. You can achieve this by using a caching method for news when the internet is available. Moreover, offline access increases user engagement as well as the app’s overall appeal.
Breaking news alerts
What is a news app without breaking news? The answer: a redundant periodical.
If your newspaper app wants to become a top contender, breaking news alerts are compulsory.
Personalization options
Creating a personal user experience is necessary for both the user and your company. It allows the mobile app user to become part of a community. Users can also create profiles for engagement.
In the same way, your company will gain actionable insights into user experience and behaviour. This data will fine-tune your marketing strategy to focus on niche app users. At the same time, you can get started on new expansion strategies for new users.
Sharing and connectivity options
Let’s face it; we all want to share interesting news stories to our Facebook and Whatsapp group chats. So, any modern mobile app must provide social media sharing options. More so, you need a 'Copy link' function for those who want to share the story without linking their social media accounts.
Content engagement
The natural reaction to any news story is to choose a side and discuss it with friends and other interested app users. This interaction often takes place in the comment section of stories. Therefore, your app must allow users to interact in the comments.
Watchlist (reading list)
Sometimes you receive a news alert with a captivating caption, but don’t have the time to read the entire thing. In other situations, you read an enthralling article that you would love to read later. This is why a newspaper mobile app must have a reading list or watchlist.
Users can add stories to their favourites or bookmark them for later reference. Alternatively, they would have to search for the content manually, which is a gruelling task.
Search options (with filters)
A mobile app needs a 'Search' feature in case the user wants to find topic-specific news articles. This feature is essential in mobile apps because it eliminates the difficulty of surfing through articles.
Media content compatibility
All modern newspaper mobile apps must be able to display images and videos. Ensure that the media player used in the mobile app is compatible with all devices.
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